Washing-machine



(No Model.)

' I-I. SGHAFER.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 533,144. Patented Jan. 29, 1895.

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` llNiTnn STATES PATENT WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,144, dated January 29, 1895.

Application iiled May 31, 18 94.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY SCHAFER, of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the in- Vention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates io an improvement in washing machines.

It is the object of my invention to provide a washing machine which is simple in construction and easily operated and understood by the persons by whom such machines are to be used; this machine being particularly intended for family use.

The machine is also intended to do the washing in a more perfect and expeditious manner than has heretofore been attained.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification and in which similar iigures of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 shows an end view of the same. Fig. 3 shows a vertical section of the machine partially on the central line. Fig. 4. shows the rubber removed from themachine, together with its connecting mechanism. Figs. 5 and 5a show in perspective details of a guide secured on the end of the tank for holding the operating mechanism. Fig. 6 shows details pertaining to a basket rack and the manner of attaching it to the machine.

Referring more particularly to the reference numerals in a more specific description of the device, l indicates the tank, which is preferably of rectangular form and is mounted upon four adjustable legs 2. The legs 2 are each retained. by a clip 3 and 4 in which they are free to slide vertically and are held extended by a spring catch 5 secured on the side of the tank and engaging in serrations 6 in the side of the leg. The tank is also preferably provided with'a faucet 7 by means of which its liquid contents can be withdrawn. I also provide in connection with the tank a Serial No. 512.999-V (Nomodel.)

basket rack 8 which consists of side-bars and cross-bars; the side-bars being adapted to project under the bottom of the tank and engage in loops 9 onthe hanger 10 which is mounted in ears ll-ll on the side of the tank adjacent to the bottom and the hanger is adapted to be turned into the posit-ion shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 when the tank sets on the floor unsupported by its legs.

Within the tank is provided a removable rack l2 consisting of a series of transverse slats 12a secured at intervals upon lateral strips 12b. Mounted above the rack l2 is the rubbing rack 13, which consists of a series of transverse slats 13a mounted upon lateral strips 13b, and is similar in construction to the rack 12. This rack, however, is further provided with the perforated and rounded end bars 13C and the strips 13d extending along the `ends of strips `15a and serving to prevent the washing from becoming entangled on the ends of the strips 13a.

The rubbing rack is of substantially half the length of the tank and is pivotally mounted upon the lower swinging ends of the pairs of uarms 11i-14.; the arms being pivoted at their upper ends at 15 to the cross-bar l5 which spans the tank from end to end and engages at either end within the vertical guides 16 secured on either end of the tank whereby it is held from lateral movement while the rubbing rack is being operated. One of the pairs of arms 14. is extended above the cross-bar 15 to furnish operating handles 17. The drawings show a pair of arms extending above, although a single arm may only be extended if found desirable.

On the cross-bar 15 and secured to the middle portion thereof, are springs 18--18 preferably of Wood. These springs are pivoted with wide bearing faces on their ends which engage in the guides and on the adjustable blocks 19-19 secured in the guides 16 by an adjusting screw 20, which passes through a vertical slot 2l in the guides 16 and clamps the block in the guide in any desired position of adjustment. By this arrangement the cross-bar is maintained in proper position and any tendency to turn over is obviated While the bar is adjustably held under spring tension-the point to Which the block 19 would be adjusted depending on the quantity ICO , over one of the upright guides 16.

of clothing to be washed, as the springs 1S operate and determine the tension with which the rubbing rack 13 will press the clothes on to the main rack 12 in the bottom of the tank.

In the guides 16 there is also provided a stationary block or stop 22 on which the end of the cross-bar 15 is adapted to rest. The arrangement is preferably such that when the cross-bar 15 is supported on the stops 22 the rubbing rack 13 will just clear the main or stationary rack 12 when the arms 14 are in a vertical position.

In operation,the device is preferably used as follows: One of the adjusting blocks 19 is removed when one end of the cross-bar 15 may be lifted out together with the rubbing rack and all its connectingvmechanism. The rubbing rack may be supported in position to drain into the tank if desired by hanging it When the rubbing mechanism is removed from the tank, the tank may be filled with suds and the washing after which the rubbing mechanism is replaced in position shown in Fig. 3 when it is ready for operation, which consists in working the rubber backward and forward with reference to the main rack 12 by means of the operatingr handles 17. In this operation the rubbing rack swings downward toward the main rack, squeezing the washing and forcing it into the intervals between the bars of the racks and as the arms pass by their vertical lines the washing is rubbed between the main rack and the rubbing rack, andas it passes by the center the pressure is gradually relieved removing the goods from the intervals of the racks and allowing the goods to fill with the suds, which is again partially expellcd as the swinging arms pass their vertical lines in the opposite movement.

It is not entirely necessary to remove the rubbing mechanism in placing the goods in the tank, as they can be forced in between the racks with a stick, but I prefer that the rubbing mechanism be removed from the tank as the goods can be more evenly distributed over the bottom of the tank, in which case the best results will be obtained.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a washing machine, a suds tank, a stationary rack covering the bottom of the tank, a rubbing rack 13 of substantially half the length of the tank, a vertical guide at either end of the tank, a single rigid, movable, removable cross-bar spanning the tank and engaging in the guides and held thereby from longitudinal movement, two pairs of parallel, equal length swinging arms pivoted to the sides of the cross-bar and at their lower ends to the rubbing rack 13, stops 22 on which the ends of the cross-bar rest, springs 18 secured on the middle portion of the cross-bar and engaging in the guides, and theadjustable blocks 19 furnishing bearings for the springs, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SCHAFER.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH SCHAEER, RICH. A. GEORGE. 

